Burnetta told the story that when he died (the first time), they were carrying him in the coffin for a very long walk to the cemetery. Along the way his hand/arm popped out of the coffin and they realized he was alive. They took him back to the house and fed him much whiskey and he survived.

John S. Hougham was one of four children who died in the epidemic of 1854. The others were William, Sarah, and Cary.